I am suppose to get newspaper and tv coverage for my grand opening. So i will make sure I link to those things when they happen.

I dont know if this is permissible or not..please just delete it if its not allowed, but...

I am looking for lace curtains. I need several for windows, alcoves, off the balcony, in the fitting rooms...if anyone has one or a few they would care to sell or donate please let me know. Valances, panels and tiers are all needed and I dont need them to match, they just have to be lace...

"If you can't imagine fat people being healthy...that's YOUR pathology!"
-from http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibition...at_shaming.php
by Marilyn Wann

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uEEYP13amQ...rilyn-Wann.jpg

I am so sore...I have been working at the store every day for several hours a day, setting it up, bringing in new consignments, ticketing displaying, etc. I am not opened yet, but I keep the front door open so I can get a breeze into the shop. I had several people walk in to see the shop today! I have found out my shop is the talk of all the VFWs in the area, as well as the weight loss groups and the beauty shops! Holy Moses! People I dont know are telling me how excited everyone is, how closets are being gone through, how pennies are being pinched so they can come buy, how happy they are to have a place that is all theirs! One woman, after five minutes in my store, grabbed my hand and held onto it and started to cry.

This is overwhelming for me. I knew on FB and other internet areas (like here) have been very supportive and excited about the store, but to get it in real life, direct from people in front of me, is truly, literally, overwhelming.

As I said, I am so sore. Every part of my body aches and my legs feel like they are on fire. But its so worth it. Once the store is assembled, the work load is so different. Not so much laborious. More details. Like ticketing, sorting, etc.

I sent a press release to our local LGBT Pride Center. Its going into the newsletter and hopefully on their web site, that my store is opening and welcoming to the LGBT community. I specifically invited the trans folks to come in, MtF, and I would welcome them especially. I have a special day with special hours just for them. Once I get the women's section done, I am adding on the male clothing line too...for bio mens, transmen and butches to shop.

I love my life right now. It is so full...

awwww...sweetie, thank you so much! Love you too!

Your still my cheerleader, and I'll always be in your corner :)

I need to clarify something I wrote. When I said I have a special day and time for MtFs to come to the store, that doesnt mean they arent welcome at any time in the store. I said it much better in my press release! LOL. Some MtFs, especially those just transitioning, arent comfortable going out in public in female form. Thats why I have the special day and special hours for them. But I dont care if they hang out all day any day with me! Whatever their comfort level!

"It remains a radical act to be fat and happy in America…Being publicly fat and happy is hard; being publicly, shamelessly, unshakably fat and happy is an act of both will and bravery."– Melissa McEwan

http://goteaminternet.com/img/docs/43208.jpg
Beth Ditto

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lw...ofspo1_500.png

http://cdn.indulgy.com/M5/Ml/c7/2066...9UWi4DfNoc.jpg

http://www.thecontrarianmedia.com/wp...010/07/fat.jpg

No Fatties, Please. Fatties, Welcome! Weight & Hollywood’s Double Standard

http://www.thecontrarianmedia.com/20...uble-standard/

Are you tired of hearing about the store yet? Today I got in my desk, and some tables, and a bookcase. I also had delivered an electric sign, more fixtures, metal sign stands, a shoe rack seat, and a HUGE mirror, easily 10"' tall! Its enormous! I want women to look in this mirror and feel like a queen!

Every day I am at the store, people walk in and tell me how excited they are that I am opening. This is so amazing to me. All I did was put up a sign and start setting up business and word has traveled amongst the plus size women in my area! They are walking in, making appointments to consign clothes, and taking a tour of the place. They grab a fistful of business cards and away they go, to tell even more people.

Why has no one thought of doing this before? The response to my presence is intense!

I spent the day tagging tiaras! I got in 21 tiaras! I am going to wear one every day I am there! I love it! Who doesnt want to feel like a princess? LOL

I had a meeting with a guy who buys storage lockers...just like the people in Storage Wars. He supplies the best consignment shop in the area (for non plus size women. Mine is the best for plus size women!) with the name brand clothes he gets from those storage rooms. He hasnt had a place to sell the plus sizes and is extremely excited to do business with me! He is passing my name onto the other people who do this too, to get them involved with my store.

Holy Moses! This is getting really exciting and I am so close to opening! I am having a premiere party on the 20th of June for my group members and consignors. Then July 1st I have my grand opening for the public!

I love my life right now!

Cool and Useful Merchandise for Big People

http://www.casagordita.com/otherstuff.htm

Worth checking out - some fun links!

I SO want her!!!! jen, you have created a wish list for me by posting those links! I am also sharing them on my shop's group page!

http://voluptuart.com/wind-p-79.html

I have been putting my life on hold. Still having problems with that.... Thank you all so much, you are such inspiration and comfort.

Tia your work with your shop is amazing, and I so admire you.

Well, that's all I have to say for now... I read this every time a post...

My photos are up in my gallery!

Wow, the pictures look great! Congratulations!!!! Wishing you all the best with your fabulous store!!!

The Premiere Gathering went very well! I got alot of visitors, and they filled out evaluations, ate cookies, shopped, stayed to visit, met each other, laughed, swapped phone numbers, became friends! It was wonderful! Everything I hoped it would be! Such joy!

And I am exhausted! The shop looked wonderful, the racks were full, the place was spotless! One of my customers brought in "P" shaped cookies, in pink and green, for my colors of Pretty and Plus! That was so thoughful and caring!

I am going to play mahjong all day and take the day off from the shop and tomorrow, hit the racks and get ready for the grand opening!

MT: your store looks awesome! What a major accomplishment to open your own business! I just love when women do this!

Kudos to you and I wish you much success!

{{{ Hugs! }}}

Popping in to say hello. I hope you are doing fabulously! :rrose:

Yay! Go Tia!

Please forgive me, but I can't resist posting these Graham Norton clips.....

I have NO idea what show this is, but I thought the dancer is super cool!

One of my customers just sent me this..its what she wrote for our area paper. I didnt know she was a writer for our newspaper! Holy Moses!

With great anticipation, a new store will be opening soon in the Mahoning Valley . The Pretty and Plus Shop, a consignment and resale store catering to Plus size Women, the first of its kind in the area, will be opening July 7, 2012 at 8 State Street in Struthers, Ohio. The store carries clothes sizes large, up to 6x in women’s clothing, as well as accessories, jewelry, and shoes. The Pretty and Plus Shop will also have a small selection of plus-sized men’s clothing and accessories .

Proprietress, Teah Keshock-Crew, states This store is here to help “as well as support women of ample size. We often feel slighted by those of smaller sizes. From childhood to adulthood, we can be victimized by cruelty of strangers and even those we love. My store's credo is we are so much more than just numbers. We are not our dress size, nor how many pounds we weigh, not even our age matters when it comes to measuring our worth. Our value lies within us and how we live our lives...not what size pants we put on! So here is a happy place to come, to feel welcomed and appreciated. We are SO beautiful...and we celebrate our size-diversity!”

The store itself offers many amenities not found in other retail shops! There is a comfortable seating area to sit and meet other consigners/customers, as well as have a cup of free tea or coffee. A play area for children with games and books to keep them occupied while moms shop! Even a rocking chair and a changing table to make moms lives easier! The shop will even have some helpers this summer to keep an eye on the children!

The store will open in July, but Ms Keshock-Crew is now accepting consignments by appointment.

“I had a lady come in today, for the first time. She was so excited that the whole time she was in the shop, she was calling her friends and family, telling them all about the shop! Not only do they want to buy, they have lots of clothes they want to consign too...party clothes, chillin' clothes, church clothes, work clothes! Her enthusiasm with her friends on the phone just tickled me to no end! THIS is exactly why I opened this store! They were all so excited about having a place, an entire place, for our sizes!’ Ms Keshock-Crews stated.

For more information on the store or consignment information, contact (Contact info). There is also a face book group listed under The Pretty and Plus Shop

hah! We are having a beach party all of July at the Pretty & Plus Shop! I have a huge arch that goes over the doorway that is filled with moss and ferns and lights and star fish, fishnetting, etc. The window displays will be filled with sand and seashells and bathing attire and picnic baskets! All summer wear will be 25% off and anyone who sends me a photo to put on my FB group gets 50% off one item! I cant wait! Its going to be wild!

I am SO not ashamed of my fat body in a swimsuit! Let 'em see me! As if clothes ever covers up bulk! Clothes dont make us thinner...anymore than baggy clothes makes a thin person heavier! Its just an illusion to the wearer...so once we accept that, we can either accept what size we are and agree that whatever we wear reflects that size, or we do something to change that size and not pretend clothes can make that difference...

so...me, size 18...is taking photos this week in bathing suits and gonna post them for the world to see! Happy me! And Imma an old woman who is saucily gonna be eating a hot dog in the photos...

dont call me old or fat like its they are bad things...if you only knew what this body knows, you would bow down and revere me....lol

I think this girl may be or have gone on to drink the :koolaid: but I thought the blog was good none the less

I think this girl is awesome and I love how her family is her family and embraces who she is!

Wow,is all I can say.

http://www.latinconnoisseur.com/imag...BAIL_CLEAR.jpg


http://api.photoshop.com/home_707f49...2ab9d3b468de16

http://madamepickwickartblog.com/wp-...10/06/fat5.jpg

Just 'cause.......

I've got to say, this made me laugh! Being fat doesn't make me morbid, it was my childhood that makes me morbid!!!

Thank you. I am still struggling with my larger size, and working to love myself and be nice to my body. I want to hide it, I don't want to spend money buying myself *thinking of my body as it, don't want to buy it* nice clothes, have trouble feeling attractive or very sexy, frankly. You women are inspiring! I appreciate this thread so much.

This made me choke up a bit, couldn't help it.

What I want to know.....
 

What I want to know.....what I really need to figure out is why in all the dozens of times I have listened to this before I never.....ever..... heard the words, "full bodied" I think it must be some kind of a block and I have to tell you that when I listened to this before I always imagined that Ivan was speaking of 'gay twiggy'........I was so wrong. Sometimes it is a blessing to be wrong.

Thank you Licious for giving me an opportunity to see the error of my ways!

This was such a delight to watch! How did you even find this?

LMAO! This was so smart, funny, and feminist! Loved it!